Xing last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Xing is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Xing.

Meaning of Xing

A Chinese surname derived from the ancient state of Xing.

Xing, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Xing surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Xing in America

Xing is the 21173rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Xing surname appeared 1,240 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Xing.

We can also compare 2010 data for Xing to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 21173 31389 -38.87%
Count 1,240 698 55.93%
Proportion per 100k 0.42 0.26 47.06%

The history of the last name Xing

The surname Xing has its origin in China and is most commonly associated with Mandarin-speaking regions. The character for Xing (邢) is composed of the radical for "city" (阝) and "to punish" (刑). This character is historically tied to an ancient feudal state called Xing, which existed during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE). The state of Xing was located in present-day Hebei province, giving the surname a specific geographic origin.

Early references to the surname can be found in various historical texts. One of the earliest recordings is in the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian), written in the 1st century BCE by Sima Qian. This extensive history mentions the Xing family among other noble families. Additionally, the surname appears in the Book of Han (Han Shu), further corroborating its ancient origins and status.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the surname Xing was Xing Yuan, a scholar and official during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE). He was known for his contributions to Confucian thought and for his essays on governance. Xing refers to the same characters in historical texts representing his name, indicating a lineage tied to scholarly and official roles.

A significant figure in Chinese history named Xing Shu was an advisor during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE). He served under Emperor Xuanzong and was noted for his strategic acumen during the An Lushan Rebellion. His guidance was instrumental in several decisive military maneuvers, and his contributions are detailed in the Zizhi Tongjian, a comprehensive chronicle edited by Sima Guang in the 11th century.

Another historic figure is Xing Qiyi (1110–1166), an official and poet during the Southern Song Dynasty. Xing Qiyi's administrative work and literary contributions are well-documented. His poetry, part of the broader Song Dynasty literary corpus, reflects the cultural richness of that period. Details about his life and work can be found in the Song Shi (History of the Song), compiled during the Yuan Dynasty.

Xing Tong (1551–1612), a leading painter of the late Ming Dynasty, further exemplifies the surname's association with cultural excellence. As a renowned artist in the literati style, his works were praised in contemporary records and continue to be studied for their artistic merit. His biography, included in Ming Shi (History of Ming), highlights his significant impact on Chinese art.

Xing Zhen, a Qing Dynasty official born in 1674 and died in 1745, is another noteworthy person with this surname. Serving under the Kangxi Emperor, Xing Zhen was significant in implementing reforms that modernized the administrative divisions of the empire. His legacy is recorded in Qing Shi Gao (Draft History of Qing), illustrating the influential role of individuals bearing the surname Xing through various dynastic transitions.

The surname Xing demonstrates a rich tapestry of historical significance, embedded within the annals of Chinese history. From the Zhou Dynasty through to the Qing Dynasty, the name has been borne by individuals who significantly contributed to scholarly, military, political, artistic, and administrative advancements. Their documented achievements provide a window into the lasting legacy of this surname throughout Chinese history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Xing

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Xing.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Xing was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 2.02% 25
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.48% 6
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 96.61% 1,198
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.65% 8
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Xing has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 2.02% 3.15% -43.71%
Black 0.48% 1.00% -70.27%
Asian and Pacific Islander 96.61% 94.41% 2.30%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.65% 1.43% -75.00%
Hispanic (S)% 0.00% (S)%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Xing was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Xing, please contact us.

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"Xing last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 21, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/xing-surname-popularity/.

"Xing last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/xing-surname-popularity/. Accessed 21 November, 2024

Xing last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/xing-surname-popularity/.

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